Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-01-27
And this was the stats of Affair." On

speak TO the old man at once; and he did
not feel afraid to do 1t.
The old couple are seated in their best
room-their council chamber-the apart
ment from which all orders are issued.
He is reclining in an easy chair with q
cushion behind his head; she sits upon
the stove bench. She is a singular
woman. When he speaks, she remains
silenS and waits until he has finished be-
fore giving her own opinion. IL often
happens their opinions are as opposite as
a Eyes is to a mo; in such cases she
always makes the first small advance:
then hc makes q little advance upon his
side; they are not yet wholly in accord;
they consider and reconsider on every
side, and continue TO discuss il until they
arrive at last at that unanimity Of opinion
which good spouses should always enter
tain. II they cannot come to any agree
ment by bedtime, they retire: and next
day everything is arranged IN the most
desirable way. For thirty years they
have lived thus!
F1ori enters the room. Until that day
although he hal always been allowed
to be present at tho family councils, he
had no voice IN them; he sat always mute
near the great clock. lie does not sit
there to-day. but sits at the table, and
leans upon it with folded arms.
The old man looks at him, shakes his
head a little, and asks him a few unim-
portant questions; Flori observes:
ALA $500 L.. - u~u-
The old man turns his head, half closes
his eyes, as II he felt sleepy, and answers:
What is that you say, Florii'
II say that il the farm is put in my
name, l can't live all alone"
"What do you mean?"
81 mean l want to get married."
"Indeed!" exclaims the mother in an
icy tone.
~ know a girl" continues the young
man: IL don't want to waste any time
over the matter; l will be married in tif-
teen days from now"
The old man drums upon the table
with stiffened fingers. At last he asks:
MAY we be permitted to know who
you are going TO marry"
"Brona-Brona Stegbrunn."
Indeed exclaims the old man in his
turn. And then, as he says nothing
more. the youth proceeds to explain the
various reasons why he wants TO get
married; and he finds so many that he
does not need to give the true and only
real reason.
The mother shakes her head. as il to
drive away a fly; the father is absolutely
petrifed. He only opens his mouth to
say to his son., just as the latter is on the
point Of leaving the room:
SWAT q little while; we cannot agree
Then he rises, leans upon the table, and
proceeds 10 speak:
my dear Flori, you have been vast
ing your words on air-try to recall
them. As for me. / have heard nothing;
l do not want 10 hear anything of that
sort from you! II YOU want to marry,
you know TO whom it is your first duty
to address yourself. You know that
your parents can only wish you well, and
can only design what they believe is good
for you. They are not going TO give you
a wife who will not suit you! Leave this
matter to them. Now you a go.
But ilori does not 60.
lis that your answer, father
at is not a question, you may he per-
fectly certain"
And the mother begins 10 take part in
the affair:
'Ilave you gone perfectly crazy, Fori;
You could not have made a worse choice!
That girl is Just everything which is unfit
for you. Hold your tongue, and don't
answer nc. you fool! She is just like
her parentsl yes, you ought TO have seen
them when they were rich, those peoplei
They would not then so much as conde-
scend to look at us; they were nothing
but silks and velvets. And now that
they have sQuandered everything they
had-now. when they are beggars-now,
indeed, they would be only too glad to
get our son! Oh yes! And you think
she is pretty' I'd like to know where
her prettiness is! I've never been able
10 see it. And a nice housekeeper she'd
make for you-a nice housekeeper. in.
deedl Holy Mother of God! Wouldn't
there he waste OF money. and fine lady
airs enough! Why, my milkmaid S little
fingers worth her whole body! Marry Q
servant, if you wish, my son-so long a.
II is a girl who knows how 10 work! But
a girl who has been once well of, and
has nothing now!-neverl So long as
we live, she'll never put her foot inside
this housed"
The old man shakes his head; the
young man tries to reply; the mother
again protests, exaggerates, ~invents,
works herself into a screaming passion
until the father exclaims:
Enough OF this, Anna; 1t is all mere
foolishnessl"
by thunderl" shouts the young man.
stamping on the floor, II will not permit
Brona 10 ls insulted. I will marry her!'
''Ftpl!' exclaims the old man, ''go
out in the yard IL you want to shout and
swear. II would be a great deal better
for you 10 see that the manure is spread
on III. uirnip fields to-day; my arms are
paining lie, and I'm sure it's going Ia
ram.
Father" returned the young man,
making a great effort to control himself.
''ever since I've been able to use my
hands AMI feet I've been working for
you! Many's the time I've been told ]
was a foh TO keep working like that all
day long. from morning till night. winter
and SUMNER. the son Of the family
but ] never said anything: ! kept on
working, just 70 please you. But now
things are different; and since you want
to prevent me from marrying, I'll do AZ
] pleased
do just as you pleased"